Today, we are going to visit the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, namely its power-generating unit number 4.

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Near the power units, they have built a nuclear waste disposal factory.

This is a well-known view of the four reactors and a snow-covered side channel.

Nuclear power plants showed a lot of advantages over other power plants such as reliability, safety, low electricity price and level of pollution of the environment.

Nuclear physics was developing really fast in the USSR and its achievements were used for both military and civilian purposes. The Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant was built during this very period.

In 1967, they chose a site to build a nuclear power plant, it was 12 km from Chernobyl, Ukraine.

They decided to use RBMK-1000 reactors (High Power Channel-Type Reactor) at the plant.

Outdoor switch-gears.

Construction works of the fifth power unit began in 1981. They planned to put it into operation by 1986, however, they had to freeze the construction after the Chernobyl Disaster (when the unit was almost completed).

The project included additional accident control measures such as installation of two extra diesel generators, separate fire-control units and ventilation systems, reconstruction of the accident locating system and replacement of the bituminous roofing with fire-proof roofing.

However, in 1987, it was officially declared that they were not going to continue the construction of the power unit.

You can still see those giant constructions unfinished.

They stopped using these wires to supply electricity to the regions in 2000.

Everybody knows why – RBMK reactors have destroyed their reputation of being safe.

This containment was built in just 7 months!

To build the containment, they used 400,000 m3 of concrete and assembled 7 thousand tons of metal constructions.

They have built a new stack because they are going to disassemble the old stack shortly.

That’s what it looked like before the accident.

And this is what it looks like now.

This is a construction site where they are going to build a new containment.

This torch marks a place with a very high radiation level.

A dosimeter shows 1,096 micro-roentgen per hour which exceeds the permissible level by 30 times!

Heading to the city of Pripyat.

The famous ‘Bridge of Death’ is situated here.

They say that after the explosion, residents of the city came out to this bridge to watch what was going on at the reactor.

Trains ceased to run here long ago…

Another photograph for you to compare the power unit the way it was many years ago and the modern one.

The thermal station is on. Even though all the four power units have been held up, people still work here because they cannot just turn the nuclear plant off.

A local cafeteria.

To go inside, you have to measure you radiation level first.

They have so many tasty dishes here to choose from!

In the cafeteria, there were a few Japanese and American people too.

This is the only place near the power unit people are allowed to enter.

The stacks.

The containment.

Its condition is very poor.

Its western listing wall is supported by two metal towers.

They planned to build a new containment by 2012 but as far as you see nothing has been done yet.

Location: Chernobyl

via holy_mozart